Portable water treatment facility

ABSTRACT

A method for providing a water treatment system for a dialysis clinic includes fabricating a portable water treatment system at a first location away from the dialysis clinic, moving the portable water treatment system from the first location to the dialysis clinic, connecting the portable water treatment system to a source of water, and connecting the portable water treatment system to loop piping for circulating treated water to a plurality of dialysis machines of the clinic.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a water treatmentfacility and more particularly to a water treatment facility that isportable and securable.

[0002] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that watertreatment facilities are needed in various fields. One key field is inhemodialysis. Simply put, hemodialysis aids a patient whose body isincapable of filtering the blood. At hemodialysis centers, the prior arthas used stationary and fixtured facilities to filter the waternecessary to the purity necessary for hemodialysis machines. These watertreatment facilities typically consume 400 square feet or more of clinicspace. These facilities are attached as fixtures and become permanentparts of the building. Unfortunately, these water treatment facilitiesare typically located in unsecured spaces with no measures to preventtampering.

[0003] The fact that these water treatment facilities are fixtures meansthat once placed into a hemodialysis center, they can not be easilyremoved. Additionally, from a tax consequence, these items are treatedas fixtures as opposed to personal property.

[0004] Because of the sheer size of the systems and the manner in whichthey have been piped, if an element goes out, the system can have asignificant down time.

[0005] Additionally, the sheer size of these systems creates large areasfor bacteria growth and the potential for “dead legs.” Dead legs arezones or segments of piping where fluids remain quiescent (limitedcirculation) either continuously or intermittently. Dead legs aretypically defined as dead end piping terminations or cavities that arelonger than six (6) pipe diameters from the active piping. Dead legs canprovide locations for bacteria to breed, increasing the concentration ofpyrogens and endotoxins in the water supply. Additionally, currentsystems are assembled using solvent welded joints which require specialassembly, cleaning and flushing procedures.

[0006] Smaller, portable systems have been described. However, thesesystems are not designed for use in a dialysis clinic, where a volume ofwater must be purified sufficiently to be used in multiple dialysismachines. U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,344 to Kenley, et al., describes aportable reverse osmosis system for use in a home or a room in aconvalescent center. The system is part of a portable dialysis unit, andis made of components which can withstand heat disinfection. Hot andcold water are mixed to a temperature appropriate for use in a dialysismachine. Sensors detect abnormalities in the system, and operation isdescribed on a visual display with touch screen. However, the systemdescribed consists of two subunits—a water pretreatment subunit fittedunder a bathroom or kitchen sink, and a water treatment subunit whichcomprises part of the portable dialysis machine module. Sampling portsare described, but these ports are located at various points within thesystem, and samples must be taken using a syringe in order to avoidcontaminating the system. Sampling is not done from a single location,where ports are accessible from outside the system, while othercomponents remain inaccessible and resistant to tampering. The systemmust be exposed for sampling, and therefore potential tampering mayoccur during the sampling process.

[0007] The system described by of Kenley, et al., also constitutes asystem for individual use rather than describing a portable systemcapable of providing water for a number of dialysis machines within adialysis clinic.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,579 to Horner, et al., also describes aportable reverse osmosis system for the purification of water. However,this system is designed to purify water to a portable drinking waterlevel and not to a level of purity appropriate for hemodialysis. Thesystem output is described as no more than 20 gallons per minute. Fluidconnections between components of the systems described by Horner andKenley are relatively fixed. At best, they may be heat disinfected, asdescribed by Kenley.

[0009] Previous inventions, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,565 to Levin, etal., have described heat disinfection of dialysis machines or watertreatment units. The size or composition of most systems presently inuse for dialysis clinics makes heat disinfection difficult and prohibitsthe use of heat sterilization techniques. A system with removable andreplaceable autoclavable components would provide distinct benefits in ahealth care setting.

[0010] In present systems, fixed pipe and valve configurations requiretechnical operators to follow precise instructions on the turning offlow valves whenever carbon treatment tanks are replaced (typicallyevery 90 days). The complexity and infrequent operation of replacementcreates a potential hazard that the setting of valves will permit thechanged carbon tanks to be “bypassed,” thereby permitting unsafe levelsof chlorine and chloramine to come in contact with patient's bloodthrough artificial kidney dialysis.

[0011] What is needed, then, is a system which eliminates tampering orinadvertent positioning of valves leading to bypass of critical waterpurifying elements. What is needed is a method and design which preventsthe operator from operating the system without carbon treatment. Thisneeded system must provide an outer skin or housing which provides“tamper resistant” packaging which may be monitored for tampering. Thisneeded system must reduce the size of a standard water treatment plantby at least one-third thereby allowing economical use of Teflon®,stainless steel, and other more appropriate heat disinfectable orsterilizable but more expensive materials. This needed system must bemobile and fully modular allowing significant reduction in times forservice plus allowing depreciation as personal property. This neededsystem must provide components which can be heat disinfected orsterilized in addition to conventional chemical disinfection. Thisneeded system must minimize dead legs. This needed system must minimizeany inefficiencies of design conversions. This needed system must bedesigned to reduce factors which favor microbiological growth. Thisneeded system must allow the removal and replacement of certain elementswith minimal time and expense. This needed system must allow servicewhile in operation. The needed system must, by design, be manufacturedto ensure the quality of the system, the efficiency of the process, thereproducibility of the product, and the security of the system. What isneeded is a large scale portable system for relief of dialysis treatmentneeds in disaster areas or parts of the United States and othercountries lacking in quality technical personnel. This system must becapable of being remotely and digitally monitored. This system mustprovide an audit trail for verifying system operation and quality ofproduct and which is remotely monitored. What is needed is a systemwhich allows for easy substitution or addition of water purifyingelements such as ultra filters, ultraviolet disinfection lights, orother purifying elements and allows for the easy configuring of systemcomponents in series or parallel to achieve greater process reliabilitythrough redundancy, improved water quality, and/or greater flowcapacity. This needed system is presently lacking in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention discloses a portable water treatmentfacility. The water treatment facility has housing on castors. Thehousing fully encloses all the water treatment components andinterconnect piping to comprise a water treatment member. The housinghas various doors which are locked to make the housing tamper resistant.The housing has an external sampling station which allows a technicianat any point in time to sample liquids being provided by the enclosedwater treatment system for assay and verification of the water qualityat various treatment points against specified values. This system has amodular water treatment member consisting of various filters, tanks, andpumps which are attached to one another by short fluid conduits withvalved quick disconnects.

[0013] Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to eliminatetampering.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to prevent inadvertentpositioning of valves which would lead to bypass of critical waterpurification elements (carbon filtration).

[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide an outerskin which provides tamper resistant enclosure which may be monitoredfor tampering.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to reduce the size ofa standard water treatment plant thereby reducing the floor arearequired for installation and allowing smaller building requirements,economical use of Teflon®, stainless steel, and other more appropriate,sterilizable, but more expensive materials.

[0017] Another object of the present invention is, by reducing its size,to minimize surface areas available for bacterial growth.

[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide a unitwhich is mobile.

[0019] Still another object of the present invention is to provide aunit which is fully modular thereby allowing sufficiently reduced timesfor service.

[0020] Another object of the present invention is to provide a systemwhich can be leased or depreciated as personal property as opposed tobeing a fixture.

[0021] Another object of the present invention is to provide componentswhich can be heat disinfected or sterilized in addition to conventionalchemical disinfection.

[0022] Another object of the present invention is to provide a designwhich minimizes dead legs.

[0023] Another object of the present invention is to provide a systemwhich allows for easy substitution or addition of water purifyingelements such as ultra filters, ultraviolet disinfection devices, orother purifying elements and allows for the easy configuring of systemcomponents in series or parallel to achieve greater process reliabilitythrough redundancy, improved water quality, and/or greater flowcapacity.

[0024] A still further object of the present invention is to provide asystem which is modular and allows for easy design conversions.

[0025] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide asystem which eliminates solvent joints and other potential sites formicrobiological growth.

[0026] Another object of the present invention is to provide a systemwhich allows for removal and replacement of components with a minimaltime and expense.

[0027] Another object of the present invention is to provide a systemwhich allows for service while in operation.

[0028] Another object of the present invention is to provide a waterpurification system for dialysis needs to disaster areas or parts of theworld lacking in qualified technical personnel.

[0029] An object of the present invention is to provide a digitally andremotely monitored system that can also provide an audit trail locallyor remotely to verify system operation and product quality.

[0030] Other objects of the invention include an audit trail which maybe produced of unit operation and the quality of water produced; providea system which is fully and continuously monitored for efficiency ofoperation and quality of product; may be remotely monitored; andoperation data may be logged and tended over time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the portable water treatmentfacility of the present invention.

[0032]FIG. 2 is a process flow diagram of the water treatment member ofthe present invention.

[0033]FIG. 3 is a top view of the system of the present invention.

[0034]FIG. 4 is a rear view of the system of the present invention.

[0035]FIG. 5 is a left side view of the water treatment facility of thepresent invention.

[0036]FIG. 6 is a right side view of the system of the presentinvention.

[0037]FIG. 7 is a front view of the system of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0038] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown generally at 10 theportable water treatment facility of the present invention. Generally,facility 10 has housing 12 on castors 14, housing 12 houses andencapsulates water treatment member 16. Water treatment member 16 willbe described in greater detail later. Housing 12 generally has roof 20joined to base 22 by left side 24, right side 26, front 28, and rear 30.In the preferred embodiment, housing 12 forms a box. However, any shapecan be used that encompasses water treatment member 16 and makes ittamper resistant if desired. Left side 24 and right side 26 can haveside doors 32. In the preferred embodiment, side door 32 is a slidingaluminum steel frame door having side door lock 34. In order to accesseither right side 26 or left side 24, side door 32 can have side doorlock 34 unlocked and side door 32 can be raised. Rear 30 can have anytype of door as well as to access the rear components. In the preferredembodiment, front 28 has first front door 40 having first front doorlock 42 and second front door 44 with second front door lock 46. In thepreferred embodiment, front doors 40, 44 are made of high impactplastic, preferably Lexan® polymer, sheets. This can make front doors40, 44 both tamper resistant as well as transparent so that a techniciancan view water treatment member 16 without opening doors 40, 44. In thepreferred embodiment, sample station 48 is provided so that a technicianat any time can get any one of preferably four sample buttons 50 toobtain samples of water prior to and after treatment by the various unitoperations.

[0039] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown generally at 16 a blockdiagram view of the water treatment member of the present invention. Ascan be seen, cold water 100 and hot water 102 forming water source 101come into water treatment 16 while waste material 104 is removed frommember 16 by drain 108. As cold water 100 and hot water 102 come intosystem, water passes through tempering or water blending valve 80 whichcontrols the temperature of the combination of cold water 100 and hotwater 102. If the water needs to be hotter, more hot water is added byautomatic adjustment of tempering valve 80. If the water needs to becolder, more cold water is added. After passing through tempering valve80, first pressure monitor 82 measures the pressure of the incomingwater, first temperature monitor 81 ensures that the right mix of coldwater 100 and hot water 102 is being achieved, first pH monitor 79monitors pH of water source 101, and first flow rate monitor 78 measuresflow rate. Pressure regulation or reduction valve 83 assists in ensuringthe appropriate water pressure. Mixed water 106 then passes throughfirst pump 84 (optional) to achieve the necessary pressure entering thenext section of the system should city water pressure be inadequate.Second pressure monitor 86 (optional) ensures that pump 84 is creatingthe right head or pressure on the water 106. Water 106 then passesthrough cartridge filters 88 to sift out particulate matter. Filteredwater pressure gauge 87 measures the water pressure passing out ofcartridge filters 88. Sample port 89 is provided to measure the qualityof water after being filtered by cartridge filter 88. Filtered water 107is then sent into water softener 90. Soft water monitor 92 then measuressoft water pressure. Soft water sampling port 91 then allows user tosample softened water 109. Soft water passes through first carbon filteror tank 94′ and then second carbon filter or tank 94″. Carbon filterpressure monitors 97′ and 97″ monitor pressure after respective filters94′ and 94″. Also carbon sample port 99 allows user to sample waterafter first carbon filter 94′ to ensure that carbon filter 94′ isworking. If not, second filter 94″ will act as a back-up in case carbonfilter. 94′ is spent. Carbon filters. 94 filter out organic material anddissolved gases (particularly chlorine and chloramines). Carbon filterbackwash waste 95 passes into drain 104 (optional). Carbon-filteredwater 112 is then sent into pretreatment cartridge filter 114. Water isthen pressure monitored at reverse osmosis feed water pressure monitor116 before passing into reverse osmosis unit 118. Before passing intocirculation pump 128, RO water 130 passes through permeate pressuremonitor 132 and permeate conductivity monitor 134. RO water can besampled at RO sampling valve 136. Circulated water 138 then passes intowater input flow monitor 98 before passing into circulated pressuremonitor 140. Circulated water 138 then passes into storage tanks 124having level indicator monitor 144. Waste water is directed into drain108. After passing into water storage 124, water flows through looppiping 123 into dialysis units 110. In the preferred embodiment, waterstorage units 124 are sized sufficiently to allow any of the upstreamcomponents to be exchanged without having to terminate the flow ofliquid into dialysis units 110.

[0040] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown generally at 10 a topview of the portable water treatment facility. Referring to FIGS. 2 and3 at the same time, one can see that water coming into system firstpasses through pump 84 before passing into cartridge filter 88. Waterpasses from cartridge filter 88 into water softener 90 and then intocarbon filters 94. In the preferred embodiment, first carbon filter 94′and second carbon filter 94″ are provided in series to provide enhancedand redundant filtering and so carbon filter 94 ″ may serve as back-upin case the carbon in carbon filter 94′ is spent. Water passes fromcarbon filters 94 through pretreatment cartridge filter 114. From filter114, water passes through feed water manifold 61 to reverseosmosis.(R.O.) machines 118 in reverse osmosis cabinet 122. PurifiedR.O. water collects and travels through permeate manifold 63 to reverseosmosis water circulation pump 128. Reverse osmosis waste reject watercollects and travels through reject manifold to drain 106. Watertreatment member 16 also provides storage tanks 124. In the preferredembodiment, first tank 124′ and second tank 124″ operate so that one canbe serviced without interrupting water delivery. In the preferredembodiment, each of carbon filters 94, brine tank 56, water softener 90,and storage tanks 124 are placed in structural aluminum frames 52 onstructural aluminum frame castors 54 so that they can be removed easily.FIG. 3 also shows monitoring system 60 which, among other things,monitors 82, 86, 92, and 96. Reverse osmosis cabinet 122 provides, inthe preferred embodiment, a framework on castors which may support asingle or multiple reverse osmosis machines for connection to feed watersupply manifold 61, reject manifold 62, and permeate manifold 63. As canbe seen in FIG. 3, feed brine tank 56 performs the function ofregeneration of the water softener 90.

[0041] Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown generally at 10 a rearview of the system of the present invention. This view shows permeatestorage tank 124, carbon filter 94, and water softener tank 90. Thisalso shows the connection between carbon filter 94 and softener 90through third pressure monitor 92. Also, this drawing shows boost pump84 (optional) and circulation pump 128. Further, this particular figuresshows that carbon filter 94′, water softener 90, and water storage 124are placed in aluminum frame 52 on aluminum frame castor 54. Aluminumframe castors 54 combined with castors 14 make the entire system easilyportable.

[0042] Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown generally at 10 theportable water treatment facility of the present invention. In thisembodiment, carbon filters 94′, 94″ are shown. Preferably cartridgefilters 88′, 88″ and 114 are mounted proximal to carbon filters 94. Thisview also shows a portion of storage members 124′ and 124″. Further,this view shows a side view of monitoring system 60.

[0043] Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown generally at 10 anotherview of the present invention. As can be seen, permeate storage tanks124′ and 124″ are split into housing 12 using structural aluminum frames52 on castors 54. Additionally, a portion of carbon filters 94′, '94″are shown together with reverse osmosis cabinet 122.

[0044] Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown generally at 10 anotherview of the present invention. In this particular embodiment, monitoringsystem 60 is shown in great detail. In the preferred embodiment,monitoring system 60 has standard computer monitor 64 for displaying thestatus of the system. In the preferred embodiment, inputs from thevarious monitors and filters as well as door lock monitors are fed intoa system which is programmed using Labview™ for Windows™. Attached tomonitor 64, there is keyboard 65 and CPU 66. Monitoring system 60 iselectronically connected into computer system 67. FIG. 7 also showssampling station 48 and buttons 50. FIG. 7 further shows the variousmanifolds such as feed water manifold 61, permeate manifold 63, andreject manifold 62. Position of blending valve 80, and first temperaturegauge 81 are shown to demonstrate the interaction between temperaturegauge 81 increasing the flow of water through valve 80 of either hotwater 102 or cold water 100. Pressure gauge 82 cooperates with firstpressure regulation valve 83 to ensure that the water passing intocartridge filters 88 are at the right pressures. Finally, FIG. 7 alsocontains conductivity meter 68 which measures conductivity providing anindication of water quality.

[0045] In the preferred embodiment, cartridge filters 88 are Aqua pure25 to micron filter 2. In the preferred embodiment, carbon filters 94are Osmonics AC36P filters. In the preferred embodiment water softeners90 are Culligan HiFlo 2 automatic water softeners.

[0046] Thus, although there have been described particular embodimentsof the present invention of a new and useful Portable Water TreatmentFacility, it is not intended that such references be construed aslimitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable treatment facility comprising: a. awater treatment member through which water is passed in a flow; and b. aportable housing surrounding said water treatment member
 2. The deviceof claim 1 further comprising castors attached to said portable housing.3. The device of claim 1 wherein said portable housing furthercomprises: a. doors; and b. locks attachable to said doors.
 4. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein said water treatment member further comprisesmonitors for determining the pressure of said water flow.
 5. The systemof claim 1 wherein said water treatment member further comprisesmonitors for determining the temperature of said water.
 6. The system ofclaim 1 wherein said water treatment member further comprises ports insaid water flow.
 7. The system of claim 1 wherein said water treatmentmember further comprises: a. monitors for determining the pressure ofsaid water flow; b. monitors for determining the temperature of saidwater flow; and c. a processing unit electronically attached to saidmonitors.
 8. The system of claim 7 further comprising a modem forremotely communicating with said processing unit.
 9. A method fortreating water from a water source comprising the steps of: a. attachinga portable system to said water source; b. blending said water from saidwater source; c. filtering said blended water; d. softening said blendedand filtered water; and e. filtering said softened water.
 10. The methodof claim 9 further comprising the step of directing said filtered andsoftened water to a dialysis unit.
 11. The method of claim 9 furthercomprising the step of monitoring said water from said water source atsome point during such method.
 12. The method of claim 9 furthercomprising the step of sampling said water from said water source atsome point during such method.
 13. A system for treating water from awater source comprising: a. a water treatment member; b. a housinghaving a door and castors; and c. said water treatment member having: 1.a blending valve receiving said water from said water source;
 2. a firstfilter hydraulically connected to said blending valve;
 3. a watersoftener hydraulically connected to said first filter;
 4. a secondfilter hydraulically connected to said water softener;
 5. a third filterhydraulically connected to said second filter; and
 6. a fourth filterhydraulically connected to said third filter.
 14. The system of claim 13wherein said first filter comprises a cartridge filter.
 15. The systemof claim 13 wherein said second filter comprises a carbon tank.
 16. Thesystem of claim 13 wherein said third filter comprises a cartridgefilter.
 17. The system of claim 13 wherein said fourth filter comprisesa reverse osmosis unit.
 18. The system of claim 13 further comprisingplural monitors hydraulically connected at desired points along a flowof water through said water treatment member.
 19. The system of claim 18further comprising a processing unit electronically connected to saidmonitors.
 20. The system of claim 19 further comprising a modemelectronically connected to said processing unit.